Looking ahead for Denbighshire’s library service

Libraries across Denbighshire are amongst the best performing in the whole of Wales, with the significant investment in facilities providing good value for money services for local residents.

Information included in the brand new Denbighshire Library Strategy, shows:

• 29.5% of 4-12 year olds in Denbighshire took part in the summer reading challenge in 2019 (1^st in Wales)
• 41,225 people were helped with using IT and getting online (1^st in Wales)
• 19.2% of the Denbighshire population are members of the library service (highest percentage in North Wales and 5^th highest in Wales)
• 125,454 virtual visits to website (6^th in Wales)
• 401,234 physical visits to libraries (8^th in Wales)

Other facts:

• 356,050 items were borrowed (including digital downloads)
• Computers were used 53,691 times
• 51,192 people came to 4,414 activities

The Council has invested over £1 million in refurbishing libraries at Denbigh, St Asaph, Rhuddlan and Rhyl and this has wider benefits to the local economy.  An average library user’s spend in local shops and cafes is £8.07 - this is calculated by using the findings of a study commissioned by Archives Libraries Museums Alliance. Based on this, the contribution that Denbighshire Library Service makes to the local high street economy is nearly three times the cost of the service.

Now the Council is outlining how it plans to develop the library service over the next three years. This will involve looking at ways of modernising libraries that have not been refurbished for over 10 years; strengthening partnership working to sustain libraries in our communities; managing the collections of books to allow customers access to stock widely;  developing digital services through social media marketing; promoting IT facilities to access Council services and looking at alternative ways of promoting what the libraries have on offer.

Liz Grieve, Head of Communities and Customers, said: “These are exciting times for our libraries.  Our libraries are the beating hearts in our community.  They provide opportunities for people to improve their  well-being, learning and prosperity by providing access to the reading and literacy skills and resources that people want and need. 

“As well as lending books, libraries provide access to information and knowledge through printed books, digitally through free access to computers and through human contact with our library and one stop shop teams.

“The service has gone from strength to strength and we are delighted to continue investing in libraries as we see the real benefit of libraries on people’s lives.

“Now we are looking to the future and we want to make sure that people can access resources and information for their health and well-being; feel enriched through reading; can access services digitally  and get involved in a vibrant local culture”.